Apr 22, 2016

Sunday April 22nd, 1973: Yogi Berra's Mets faced off against Gene Mauchs Montreal Expos for a Sunday double header. A Shea Stadium crowd of 27,230 came out & saw Tom Seaver go up against John Strohmayer, who would pitch for the Mets later in the season & in 1974.

The Expos Ron Fairly, hit a lead off second inning HR and Strohmayer held down the Mets scoreless through the end of the 8th inning. He was relieved by relief ace, Mike Marshall who allowed a leadoff 9th inning walk to Jim Fregosi, then threw a wild pitch advancing him to second. Jerry Grote sacrificed Fregosi to third & pinch hitter Ken Boswell came through with a base hit tying the game. Newly acquired Mets relief pitcher Phil Hennigan, had his own troubles in the 10th inning. He walked John Boccabella, then walked pinch hitter Boots Day, intentionally. After a force play, former Met infielder Tim Foli singled to right field which scored what was the winning run.

In the night cap, the Mets Jim McAndrew went up against former Met, Steve Renko. Renko was sent to Montreal back in 1969 in the trade that brought Donn Clendenon to New York. The game was scoreless until the 3rd inning, when the Mets exploded with one of their biggest innings of the year. ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿It began with a Felix Millan base hit & a walk to the Hammer; John Milner. Rusty Staub then flew out to deep centerfield advancing both runners. Then Ed Kranepool came through with a base hit driving in both runners. After another out, short time '73 Mets centerfielder Rich Chiles doubled to score Ed Kranepool. Renko was then taken out of the game & relieved by Pat Jarvis.
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Ed Kranepool drives in Four Runs

Mets catcher Duffy Dyer was walked & then picked off of first base, but the first baseman (former Met) Mike Jorgensen dropped the ball. Pitcher Jim McAndrew then helped his own cause with a two run double of his own. After walks to Teddy Martinez & Felix Millan, John Milner, the 12th man to bat in the inning, then singled to left scoring McAndrew & Martinez. The Mets scored seven runs in the inning & sent 14 men to the plate. The Mets then scored again in the 5th inning as Teddy Martinez singled & Felix Millan walked. Then another Ed Kranepool, two run double made it 10-0 Mets. In the 6th, the Mets Pitcher Jim McAndrew reached on an error & Teddy Martinez singled. Kenny Boswell then nailed a base hit scoring McAndrew to make it 11-0. Next up, reserve outfielder Jim Beauchamp singled scoring Boswell & Martinez making it 13-0.

The Mets went on to win the game 13-3, as McAndrew pitched seven solid innings allowing a two run HR to Bob Bailey, just three hits overall. He would get the win & George Stone finished it off. The 13 runs would be the most runs the Mets would all year long in a single game. They also had 16 hits on the day, and were within one & a half game of first place. Every Met in the lineup that day had a hit, except for Rusty Staub. Kranepool had the biggest day of all, with three hits, two doubles & four RBIs.